Avoid the flu and keep healthy!

In my opinion, the decision to take any flu vaccine is a decision to be made between each person and their doctor... the media have shared with us so many contrasting opinions, it's impossible to have a concrete authority.

BUT.... I believe that the following suggestions will help each of us.

The only portals of entry for the flu virus are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with the flu virus in spite of all precautions. The following six suggestions are simple to follow, and will reduce the possible impact of the flu.


1. Frequent hand-washing.

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations
to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water. (Use Listerine
if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial
infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show
characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation.
In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a
healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.
Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive, and powerful
preventative method.

4. Similar to "3" above, clean your nostrils at least once
every day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard
once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds
dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing
down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich
in Vitamin C (citrus fruits). If you have to supplement
with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has zinc
to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc)
as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect
as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off
proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach
where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.